Core77

Christina Fesmire has created the Fugle Swing, which seeks to create "a more playful present" in adult life while taking cues from mid-century Scandinavian design and functionalism. Made primarily from maple veneer and walnut laminate, the rigid swing gets its form from the careful consideration of its comfort. The central dip in the swing accommodates the tailbone, while the ends taper for lightness, strength and visual fluidity. We are especially impressed with Fesmire's dedication to nuance and the detailed fabrication process she developed to produce it:

The mold itself was made from manipulating sheet metal to the desired shape and joined with particleboard. To accurately flex and form the veneer material to the metal mold, a pipe is placed within the crevice, and the veneer is vacuum formed with heat. In this process of lamination, running long and short fibers of wood sheeting in opposite directions, creates a durable structure. A layer of adhesive is coated between the each ply. The thickest portion is centrally located, and measures approximately 2cm, 1cm thicker than the tips, allowing for visual fluidity. In order to achieve this tapered effect in the lamination process, one must stagger the veneer material at incrementally increased lengths. In staying consistent with the use of natural materials, Walnut inlay defines the entrance and exit of the natural hemp rope suspensions, allowing a suitable contrast in material. The method of pulling apart and rejoining fibers of the rope is called 'splejsning' in Danish. The "handlebars" of the swing were designed to seamlessly begin and end using this technique.